Hypodermic projectile



N v- 1952 s. E. 'VAN HORN ETAL HYPODERMIC PROJECTILE Filed Nov. 16, 1951 INVENTORS 650265 5 mm Hoe/v, 002071 1454 E. m/v HOE/V,

' Patented Nov. 11, 1 952 HYPODERMIC PROJEGTILE GeorgeE; Van Horn. and Dorothea E. Van Horn, Casa Grande, Ariz.

ApplicationNovember 16, 1951, SerialNo; 256,778

Claims;

This invention relates to hypodermic projectiles, and more particularl'y to a-hypodermic projectil'e" which can he fired from asuitable gun to hypodermically inject a: fluid" intoa target; such as an animal, and will automatically withdraw the hypodermic needle f'romthe t'arget'after the injectionhas' been made.

It is among the. objects: of. the invention to provide an improved hypodermic projectilewhioh can be fired from a suitablegun, such; as an air gun, against a target. such asan. animal that.

it is desired to inject with a serum, drug or chemical; which remains in a primed: but: entirely inoperative condition until it impacts a target, and then injects itscharge immediately into-thetarget; whichwithdraws-its needle from the target immediately after. the injection has been completed; which may include; means for.

applying a. sterilizing. agent and a dye to the target'to indicate which. animalsv have been: in.- jectediwhenethe device isbeing usedfor innoculatingor otherwise treating animals; andlwhich is simple. and economical. construction. and

positive and efiective in operation.

Other objects and'advantages will become apparent from a consideration oi the following, description and appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying, drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a medial; longitudinaL. cross-sectional view ofahypodermic projectile illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is: a front end elevational view of the projectile;

Figure 3' is a transverse, cro'ss sectional view on the1line lie-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4' is a; cross-sectional view similar-to Figure 1, but showing the parts in a different operative position from that illustrated in Figure 1;. and

Figure 5' is a cross-sectional view similar to Figures 1 and 4, but'showing the parts in a" still different operative position;

With continued reference to the drawing; the

hypodermic projectile-comprises a hollow casing ID of cylindrical shape'having one open end'and: having an end wall H closing-its other end and disposed substantially perpendicular to the 1ongitudinal center line of the casing. The casing H)- has an inside diameter substantially equalto the inside diameter of an air gun, the muzzleendof' the barrel of which is indicated at l2'.

The end wall H' of the casing I is provided with a centrally located aperture 13, and" a tubular hypodermic needle I 4 extends through the apertures I3 in the casing end wall and issharpened at both ends; as indicated at. 5; and I6;

The needle M has portions. of. substantially equal length disposed at the opposite sides otthe end wall H when theldevice is in inoperative condition, and atapered. stopper. H of resilient. ma.- terial surrounds and. is securedto the needle [4 at the inner side of the casing endv wall H. A beveled washer l8, also of. flexible material, surrounds the needle between the larger end of the stopper I1 and the inner. sideof'theend wall ll andserves to hold the needle in a. predetermined position' of longitudinal? adjustment relative to the endwall of' the casing and to prevent entrance of moisture or dirt into the casing, through the aperture. I3 in the endwall l I.

A washer I9 of absorbent material, such as felt, is disposed. against the outer side of the casing end. wall H in surroundin relationship to the needle [4' and secured to the casing, end wall. This absorbent washer l9 acts to cushion. the impact when. the projectile strikes a target, such. as. an animal, and is impregnated with suitable sterilizing and dyeing agents to sterili'zethe area of the animals-skin immediately adjacent the needle puncture and place a colored dye on the animal to indicate which animals of a group. have been injected during the course of an injection procedure on a group of animals.

A hollow capsule 2010f cylindrical shape is slidably mounted in the casing l0 and. has an end wall 2! closing one end thereof and a removablecap 22 closing its other end. The end wall 21v is at the end of the capsule adjacent'the end wall. I I of the casing and is provided" with a. centrally located, tapered aperture 23 adapted to receive the end portion of the needle disposed within the casing I ll and the tapered stopper l1, and this end wall is further provided with fluid passages 24 extending therethrough adjacent to, but spaced from the centrally located aperture 23.

The inner side of the end wall 2| of the capsule 29 is concavely rounded, and a receptacle 25' of thin-walled construction and formed of a. suitable flexible material, such as a synthetic rubber or a synthetic resin plastic, is disposed'in' the capsule and. has a rounded" end in contact with the concavely rounded inner side of the capsule end wall 2|, this end of the receptacle being somewhat thickened and overlying the inner ends of the fluid passages 24 to close these passages when the receptacle is in its filled condition, as illustrated in Figure 1. The receptacle has its rounded end a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of' the cylindrical interior of the capsule 20, but is tapered or pear shaped to provide within the capsule a space-surrounding'the' receptacle. A bodyofliquid, as indicated at 26;

3 containing a serum, drug or chemical composition fills the receptacle 25, and a body of compressed gas fills the space within the capsule surrounding the receptacle.

The receptacle 25 may be placed in the capsule 28 while the cap 22 of the capsule is removed and a quantity of Dry Ice may also be placed in the capsule at this time and the cap 22 then secured in place, a sealing gasket 21' preferably being interposed between the end of the body portion of the capsule and an annular shoulder on the cap 22 to provide a gas-tight seal between the cap and the body portion of the capsule. As soon as the Dry Ice evaporates, a body of compressed carbon dioxide gas will fill the space within the capsule surrounding the receptacle. Instead of using Dry Ice, gas or air may be forced under pressure into the capsule through the fluid passages 24, the receptacle 25 serving as a check valve to retain the compressed air or gas in the capsule.

Barbs 28 are provided on the needle It adjacent the end of the needle l4 disposed within the casing Ill, and these barbs are directed toward the end wall ll of the casing.

In the operation of the device, with the capsule 20 located in the casing It] so that the inner end of the needle I4 is disposed partly within the aperture 23 in the capsule end wall 2 I, but spaced from the adjacent surface of the receptacle 25,

the portion of the capsule projecting outwardly of the open end of the casing is inserted into the muzzle end of the air gun barrel l2. The gun is then fired and the entire hypodermic projectile is propelled, needle end first, toward the target. The needle M has a portion projecting outwardly of the casing of a length sufficient to penetrate the skin of an animal constituting target for the projectile. When the projectile strikes the target, the end wall of capsule 28 engages stop pin H on the needle, and the projecting portion of the needle is driven into the target, through the skin of an animal, for example, the washer l9 contacting the surface of the target to cushion the impact and distribute sterilizing or coloring material, or both, on the target. As the capsule 20 is moved by the impact toward the end wall ll of the casing, the inner end of the needle l6 moves through the aperture 23 in the end wall of the capsule and punctures the receptacle 25. The body of compressed gas in the capsule then expels the contents of the receptacle 25 out of the receptacle and through the tubular needle l4 into the target.

When the inner end portion of the needle is forced through the adjacent rounded end wall of the receptacle 25, the barbs 28 on the needle engage the wall of the receptacle and lock the needle to the receptacle and the capsule.

The receptacle 25 is collapsed as its contents are discharged, and when collapsed. uncovers the ends of the fluid passages 2 as illustrated in Figure 4, this figure illustrating the condition of the proiectile when the needle has been driven into the target, as through the skin 30 of an animal. At this time, the stopper i1 is received in and closes the tapered aperture 23 in the end wall of the capsule, the inner end of the needle I4 is disposed within the receptacle 25, and the receptacle is collapsed, uncovering the ends of the fluid passages 24, so that the compressed gas in the capsule flows through these passages into the space between the end wall ll of the casini and the end wall 2| of the capsule.

The pressure of the compressed gas in the space between the end walls of the casing and the capsule forces the capsule away from the end wall of the casing, and, because of the interlocking of the barbs 28 with the receptacle 25, the needle is moved with the capsule and withdrawn into the casing to the position illustrated in Figure 5, the needle thus being automatically withdrawn from the target as soon as the injection of the contents of the receptacle into the target has been completed. The entire projectile will now fall from the target, its function having been completely accomplished.

The projectiles are preferably formed of a readily available and inexpensive material, such as a synthetic resin plastic, and are so simple in construction that their manufacturing cost is negligible and they can be used as readily dispensible items, one projectile being used for each injection.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departin from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein,

What is claimed is:

l. A hypodermic projectile comprising a casing of cylindrical shape having an open end and an end wall closing its other end and provided with a centrally located aperture, a tubular needle extending through said aperture and sharpened at both ends, a tapered stopper secured on said needle adjacent the inner side of said end wall, a hollow capsule of cylindrical shape slidably mounted in said casing and having an end wall closing one end thereof and a removable cap closing the other end, the end wall of said capsule being disposed at the end of said capsule adjacent the end wall of said casing and having a centrally located tapered aperture therein adapted to receive said tapered stopper and fluid passages spaced from said centrally located aperture, a receptacle of flexible material disposed in said capsule and having one end in sealing engagement with the fluid passages in the capsule end wall when the receptacle is filled, and a body of compressed gas in said capsule surrounding said receptacle, said capsule being movable in said casing by impact toward the end wall of the casing to move the end of said needle disposed inwardly of said casing through the centrally located aperture in the end wall of said capsule and into puncturing engagement with said receptacle to provide for the propulsion of the contents of the receptacle through said needle by said body of compressed gas, said receptacle unsealing said air passages when its contents are discharged to admit compressed gas from said capsule into the space between the end walls of said capsule and said casing to move said capsule away from the end wall of said casing and draw said needle into said casing, said needle having locking means adjacent the receptacle puncturing end thereof for securing said needle to said capsule when the needle is moved to receptaclepuncturing position relative to the capsule.

2. A h podermic pro ectile comprising a hol- 10W casing open at one end and having at its other end an end wall provided with an aperture, a tubular needle extending through said aperture and sharpened at both ends, a washer secured on said needle at the inner end of said end wall, a hollow capsule slidably mounted in said casing and having an end wall at its end adjacent the end wall of said casing and a removable cap closing the other end thereof, the end wall of said capsule having an aperture therein in alignment with said needle and a fluid passage extending therethrough at a location spaced from said aperture, a thin-walled receptacle of flexible material disposed in said capsule in covering relationship to the aperture and fluid passage in the end wall of said capsule, a body of liquid in said receptacle, and a body of compressed gas in said capsule surrounding said receptacle for propelling the liquid contents of said receptacle through said needle when said receptacle is moved into puncturing engagement with the adjacent end of said needle.

3. A hypodermic projectile comprising a hollow casing open at one end and having at its other end an end wall provided with an aperture, a tubular needle extending through said aperture and sharpened at both ends, a washer secured on said needle at the inner end of said end wall, a hollow capsule slidably mounted in said casing and having an end wall at its end adjacent the end wall of said casing and a removable cap closingthe other end thereof, the end Wall of said capsule having an aperture therein in alignment with said needle and a fluid passage extending therethrough at a location spaced from said aperture, a thin-walled receptacle of flexible material disposed in said capsule in covering relationship to the aperture and fluid passage in the end wall of said capsule, a body of liquid in said receptacle, a body of compressed gas in said capsule surrounding said receptacle for propelling the liquid contents of said receptacle through said needle when said receptacle is moved into puncturing engagement with the adjacent end of said needle, and means on said needle engaging said receptacle and securing said needle in puncturing engagement with said receptacle, said receptacle uncovering said fluid passage when its contents are discharged and admitting compressed gas to the space between the end walls of said casing and said capsule to move said capsule outwardly of said casing and draw said needle inwardly of the casing.

4. A hypodermic projectile comprising a hollow casing, a needle mounted in said casing and having sharpened ends disposed one within and one without said casing, a hollow capsule slidably mounted in said casing for movement toward and away from said needle and havingan aperture therein in alignment with said one end of said needle, a receptacle of elastic material in said capsule adapted to be punctured by said needle when said capsule is moved toward said needle, a body of fluid in said receptacle, and a body of compressed gas in said capsule surrounding said receptacle and effective to propel the fluid from said receptacle when the latter is punctured by said needle.

GEORGE E. VAN HORN. DOROTHEA E. VAN HORN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,549,565 Stadler Aug. 11, 1925 2,409,734 Bucher Oct. 22, 1946 2,545,017 Billingsley Mar. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date I 114,199 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1926 

